Come January, as soon as the Christmas trees are taken down and the winter sales flood the shops, the world of business starts thinking about the World Economic Forum -- better known as Davos.

CNN: Quest: U.S. economy to dominate Davos 2013

Plants only cool the air if they stay green, which means capturing heavy winter downpours instead of letting them just flood the drains.

BBC: Time to leave the comfort zone

Mr Hawkins added flood defences installed a decade ago had worked until this winter - and the firm was now expecting more rain.

BBC: South West rail problems could last five days